New Craftsman portable review

[gp-clipper]

I have finally set up and have been using the Craftsman 21829 portable saw (The BT3100 dressed in red wearing roller blades) for the past week. So far, I'm pretty satisified with the results. The saw set up fairly quickly, except for the rail alignment. Every picture in the manual shows the rails evenly spaced on either side of the rail. When you zero out the rail for ripping I was finding that the rails rest primarily on the right side of the blade. Finally determined that the instructions were right and I just wasn't use to rails that are designed to slide on either side of the blade. The pictures probably had the rails displayed evenly because it makes a nicer picture.

I have a Craftsman router that mounted easily to the router table and the router accessories worked well.

I can't speak to the quality of the blade which is made in China. It works fine now, but how long with it last....who knows.

I haven't moved the saw much, so I'll have to watch for necessary adjustments. The saw does fold up and move easily, so if you don't bounce it up and down steps it should stay true.

Finally, I paid $414 for it including an extra year warranty. Was it worth it???...probably for me because I have to move it up and down several steps to work. Having the Craftsman router also helped.

So, can I still hang out with everyone here if my BT is dressed in red and rolls? :-) Looking forward to learning more about the saw from all of you.

Gary

[should_have]

thanks for the review

GP, thanks for the review. How difficult do you find moving the saw up and down the steps by yourself?

2nd question: how close do you think the construction is to the BT3100 minus the Mobile base?

[monte]

Welcome to the group. Be safe and enjoy your new saw.

[JimD]

Thanks for the information on the new option. We have many participants who do not own Ryobi saws of any vintage. I'm sure Sam does not have a requirement that you have a BT3000 or BT3100. I enjoy the other options, personally. Welcome to the site!

Jim

[Russianwolf]

What is the part number for the accessory table? I want one since it already has miter slots and workable holes for attaching a router.

[LinuxRandal]

GP First and foremost, congrats!

Secondly, as this is a new toy, and you haven't moved it much, YET, I am also interested in how it goes up and down stairs, and I would also ask, that you recheck it after a while, and re-review it. I am seriously considering buying either the stand, or that as a second saw (eventually if I get a bigger shop, frankensaw).

Once again, congratulations, and Thank you!

[gp-clipper]

Sorry for the delay in getting this reply out...I was out of town all weekend. First, the stand does collapse down easily and operates like a hand truck. So, moving has been pretty simple. I'll keep an eye on the alignments and report back when I have more information.

The part number for the accessory table is 0182010102-126. The only thing I had to do differently when I attached my Craftsman router was to buy one shorter screw. One of my mounting holes needed a 1/2" screw...the saw came with 3/4".

Finally, I think the construction of the saw is basically identical to the BT. Yes, different saw blade, but everything else seems to be just as good. I actually prefer the smooth table over the BT grooved table.

Back to the basement remodeling project....

[LCHIEN]

GP Clipper, Welcome to the forum - you definately have a BT family member. I have one comment and one question.
Comment: You said the rails weren't centered when the scale was zeroed. - the scale of course is not required to be zeroed, there's a split decision when it comes to using the scale or not some say its fine others say they never use it. But I think on most BTs the scale indicator can be moved to the left or the right of the rip fence handle or base/whatever, this may make a difference in the final rail positioning if its important to you.

My question is this:
With no way to align the miter slots in the auxiliary/accessory table to the blade, it can't be used (in my opinion) with the table saw blade for any operation, onl with the router. Does the manual indicate this limitation?

[JR]

With no way to align the miter slots in the auxiliary/accessory table to the blade, it can't be used (in my opinion) with the table saw blade for any operation, onl with the router. Does the manual indicate this limitation?

gp-clipper, Loring posts what is somewhat of a burning question for BT3K owners. The accessory table on your saw looks very intruiging, especially if those miter slots on the accy table can be aligned with the saw blade.

If you get a chance to take a look at that issue you'd be a primary contibutor to the knowledge base for this saw.

TIA,
JR

[gp-clipper]

So far, I've only used the miter slots to steady some long cross cuts that I've needed to make.

The owners manual does not say anything about aligning the miter slots to the saw blade. I haven't actually checked the alignment yet. There is a clamp that goes underneath the accessory table and clamps the back of the table (outsfeed side) to the rail. It is designed to hold that part of the table steady when using a router. It might be possible to use it to help align the miter slot to the blade if needed. That's not what it was designed for so I don't know if it would work.

Let me know if I should post this note on its own thread, since it seems to be a specific point of interest.

Gary

[AndyF]

Sears 21829 and BT3100 rails

Are the front rail profiles the same on the new Craftsman 21829 and the BT3100?

(I know the profiles of the front rail for the BT3100 and BT3000 are different.)

It wouldn't affect the operation of the fence, but I was thinking about using the slots under the rails to slide a "widget" from one set of rails to the other.

The "widget" has yet to be designed/determined...

gp-clipper, Could you post a profile picture of the front rail on your 21829? I know Sam Conder has profile pictures of the front rails for the BT3100 and BT3000 in the articles section.

Thanks,
Andy

[gp-clipper]

picture wanted

I'll try and take a few pictures of the saw tomorrow and then post them. The rear rail has the ability to slide a locking "piece" under the accessory table to stablize it while using a router.

[btv]

I have the same saw. And found that router table clamp pulls the back rail in towards the table. So I don't use it when using the saw. Keep an eye on it when you use it. And see if you have the same problem.
This is a link to sears saw they have a few pictures in photo gallery but not clear ones of the rails
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00921829000

[pirinst]

FYI, the new BT3100s come with a Chinese blade now

Change happened sometime around the holidays when the table went on sale for $199 before the BORG Ryobi $50 rebate. Some believe that is part of the reason for the sale as the Freud blade costs more than a Chinese version given the reputation of the Freud product. I didn't even think about it until I saw others on the forum siting Chinese blades sited on the BT3100s. I can always buy a new Freud but haven't needed on yet...

[John Hunter]

The part number for the accessory table is 0182010102-126. The only thing I had to do differently when I attached my Craftsman router was to buy one shorter screw. One of my mounting holes needed a 1/2" screw...the saw came with 3/4".

I just looked up that part number on the Sears site

Note: Subtotal does not include shipping, handling and tax. Subtotal: $ 60.64